Natural Childbirth
         In the United States about 90% of all vaginal delievers are with the aid of an epidural.  Why is this?  Birth is a natural event and does not have to be painful. (For furthing information read Childbirth Without Fear by Grantly Dick-Read.)  There are many reasons for this but is this truely the best way to go?  Does an epidural honestly do no harm?
              There are many hospitals which push epidurals on birthing women.  A way they do this is comments like "you don't win anything for not having drugs," "don't be a mayrtar," and reminding women how many women died in childbirth in the past.  Many women chose to have an epidural due to fear.  Fear of the pain, of angering care-givers, fear of not being able to take it or lose control.  All these fears, however, factor into how much pain the mother will have.
            It is hard to get acurate, unbiased opinons on epidurals.  One big reason is money.  Many of the compaines publishing medical journals and such are hospitals, or make epidurals.  They don't want to say they are harmful because that means a loss of money.  A second is the new idea of birth as a medical event which must be managed by a doctor.  In this new image of birth then it seems perfectly natural to have an epidural.
         Doctors are reluctant to talk about possiable outcomes of epidural use such as death, permentant paralysis, fevers, or increased risk of ceasearian sections.  In fact, in some places it is often said there are "no risks" associtaed with epidurals.
           There are some definate perks to having an epidural.  Number one, it lessens the pain and will make the mother more comfortable.  In the cases of a long labour this may mean giving her a chance to sleep between contractions or otherwise rest.  Also, when an eqidural is working properly it should reduce serum catecholamines and prevent hyperventiltation.  Not only that but they are excellent for pregnancy induced hypertension and a good idea for any woman having a C-section.  Many people in the birthing room with the woman will appareciate her having an epidural, ecspecially the husband (or partner).  Some people claim that an epidural may enhance the mother's ability to push, but this is doubtful in most cases.  At one time in history having an epidural was a status symbol, but it no longer is.
            As with any medical procedure there are possiable problems associted with it and epidurals are no different.  One common problem with dura puncture epidurals is headache.  Also, hypotension is a possiable risk and epidurals require IV fluids.  When a mother gets an epidural it will cause her to be confined to the bed, which minimizes the help of gravity and reduces the number of birthing positions.  In cases of a first pregnancy and birth then an epidural may increase the need for Pitocin.  Often when eqidurals are given to soon or with first children they increase the risk of a C-section.  Epidurals also increase the need for a forceps or vacuum delievery.  It has been known that eqidural can raise the mother's temperature and cause shivering.  Postpartum urinary retention is a common problem too as is back pain.  In some cases epidurals may only half work as in being "one-sided" or blotchy.  It is often found that the use of an epidural hampers a mother's pushing ablitiy rather than helps.  Also, it could cause itching of thorax, face, or neck on the mother's part which is very uncomfortable.  Another common side effect is that it could delay the babies early latch-on ablity to breast feed.  Another concern is that of septic meningitis.  Those are just a few "cons" on epidurals.

             There are many factors that factor into how much pain a birth brings.  Among the biggest is fear and what the mother expects it to be.  If she is afraid of the pain, or expects a lot of pain, then there will be.  In contarst, if the mother is not afraid and knows labour does not have to be painful then it will be realiatively easy and pain free.  Another factor is the size of the baby; the bigger the baby the more pain, a small baby means less pain.  A long labour is more painful than a short labour.  First babies and oxytocin levels are usually contributors to more pain however not always.  The maturity of the mother also plays a role in labour pain, mature mothers have less pain then immature mothers.  Birthing classes can help minimise labour pain by their birthing techniques and birth education.  Women with little education on birth have more pain than those with education.